Explore chords · Ukulele
B♭ add 9 chord on ukulele (B♭add9)
Also called or written B♭add9, B♭ or B♭ Add 9th
B♭ add 9 is built from B♭, D, F, and C. The 1st-fret voicing requires a wide stretch across all four strings.
How it is built
Formula 1, 3, 5, 9
How do you play a B♭ add 9 chord on ukulele?
B♭ add 9 is played at the 1st fret as 3 2 1 3: ring finger on the G string at fret 3, middle finger on the C string at fret 2, index finger on the E string at fret 1 and pinky finger on the A string at fret 3.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 3 | 3 | B♭ (1) |
| 3 (C) | 2 | 2 | D (3) |
| 2 (E) | 1 | 1 | F (5) |
| 1 (A) | 3 | 4 | C (2) |
AdvancedThe pinky must reach the A string at fret 3 while the ring finger holds the G string at the same fret, stretching the hand.
B♭add9/F inversion
B♭ add 9 is played at the 5th fret as 5 5 6 5: index finger on the G string at fret 5, middle finger on the C string at fret 5, pinky finger on the E string at fret 6 and ring finger on the A string at fret 5.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 5 | 1 | C (2) |
| 3 (C) | 5 | 2 | F (5) |
| 2 (E) | 6 | 4 | B♭ (1) |
| 1 (A) | 5 | 3 | D (3) |
Why it sounds like that
B♭ add 9 uses the formula 1, 3, 5, 9. The major 2nd between B♭ and C adds a bright suspension to the major triad. Compare B♭ add 9 with B♭ major, which omits the 9th for a more direct sound.
What goes wrong with B♭ add 9?
- The pinky collapses and mutes the A string, losing the root.
- The index finger on the E string leans back and deadens the C string.
- The ring finger on the G string buzzes because it is not perpendicular to the fretboard.
When to use it
B♭ add 9 functions as the tonic in B♭ major, fitting the I–IV–V–I progression B♭–E♭–F–B♭. Its bright, open sound suits jazz ballads and R&B. Use B♭ add 9 to add color to B♭ major in a turnaround.
Changing to and from B♭ add 9
- From B♭ add 9 to B add 9, slide the entire shape up one fret to the 2nd fret.
- From B♭ add 9 to C add 9, slide the entire shape up two frets to the 3rd fret.
Which voicing to use
The 1st-fret voicing keeps the root B♭ on the G string and is the standard shape. The B♭add9/C inversion at the 5th fret places the 9th in the bass, creating a suspended, airy feel that resolves well to B♭ major.
Other B♭ chords
Common questions
How is B♭ add 9 written?
B♭ add 9 is written as B♭add9 or B♭ add 9. The ASCII root is Bb, so Bbadd9 is also used. It is also spelled A♯ in enharmonic notation for the same sounding root.
What is the difference between B♭ add 9 and B♭ suspended 2nd?
B♭ add 9 contains the major 3rd (D) and the 9th (C). B♭ suspended 2nd replaces the 3rd with the 2nd, so it has no D. The add 9 sounds more resolved.
Can B♭ add 9 be played with a barre?
The 1st-fret voicing uses individual fingers, not a barre. The B♭add9/C inversion at the 5th fret also uses individual fingers. No barre is required.